Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-04-29

dissapointment and grief. But pres
emily forgot them, in dealing with 9th
ers who pressed forward. IF !
AL the morning the crowd came
and went, and it was not till after
noon that there was an interval to
breathe and think ofsomethingb besides
saying mo-" and reading and indoors:
ing official papers that came to me.
| When that interval came, nobody
remained outside the ratings but the
two men have spoken o.. l remem-
bered them at once. ~ ,:~ -
They We're probably encouraged by
being able to speak to me alone; and
presume was less peremptory, with
the stress of the days business gone.
@''WelI," Isaid, "what isit? Haven't
you been to me once this morning? .,
The young fellow came forward as
bashfully as girl.
Eyes, sir" he said "Father and I
spoke to you q while ago, when you
were busy. We'vegot arelative down
in General McDowell's army; and we
II understood you perfectly them"
interrupted. What you want can
not possibly be granted"
The father now came forward. His
anxious, venerable face and trembling
voice would have moved any one to
pity, as they did me; but Ihad to steel
myself against him. .%
"sir!" he said. "s;r, if you knew
why we are so anxious to 60 down to
General McDowell's army, you would
try to help u.s." X.
"My dear sir" I replied, II. can't
help you. 1t is utterly beyond my
power. General Wadsworth would
say just the same, if were to take
| you to him. Don't you understand,
the Secretary of War has ordered that
no civilian shall go to the front, and
we don't dare to disobey that order,
! If we wish to. can sympathize with
you, because see that you are IN
real tt ouble; but it's not possible for
me to do anything else"
The old man looked the picture OF
despair. He turned desperately to
| his son.
"John, what, in Gods name, shall
we do?" he cried.
"Sir," said the son, won't YOU
hear our story? Idon't know as you
can do anything to help us; but it'll
do no harm to tell you, and we won't
keep you long"
looked at my watch. The hour
was early yet; there was nothing very
| pressing on hand. had time to sym
! pathize with the distress of these peo-
| pie; why should not?
! 'Tell me, if ye wish to-" said I. On
~, warn you before you begin, that
l can't do anything for you.'
The father told the story. It was q
brief one; but doubt if anything like
it was ever told to q staff officer in
the same way. These persons, father
and son. lived in the state OF New
York. The family besides themselves
consisted of one person, a daughter
and-a sister, still in her teens.
She was engaged to be married to g.
young man oftheir neighborhood, who
had enlisted that spring as recruit in
one of McDowe!Ps New York regiments,
and was now at the front.
| One week before the discovery had
come to that rural home that it was
threatened with disgrace. Let me
speak as delicately of this as the dis
tressed father tried to speak to me-
The girl had loved mot wisely, but
too well''. She was likely to become
a mother.
They knew that her lover-who, by
the way, was a Lieutenant-could not
get leave OF absence at that time.
They acted on the impulse that
told them to 60 to him, with her. So
they were here, trying to get him to
right the wrong he had done.
"And he'll do it, sir; know he will"
the old man energetically exclaimed.
''He is a good boy-he' II do what he
ought to-he'll marry her-if we can
only get to him. But ii we cam land
supposing he was to be killed!-why,
good God, SIT, can't think of it!''
where is your daughter?" asked.
cover at the Ebbitt House, SIR" ~,
They were looking anxiously at me.
They saw that the story had moved
my sympathy and interest. Still,
what could I do? Glad as l would
have been to help them. saw no way
out Of this difficulty. a.. d,
Still, was possessed with the idea
that something ought to be done;
though just what, could not tell.
Ny mind reverted to one possible.
Ity. 4sE.s r.
"stay here" I said. t'Your case is
a hard one. l don't promise that
anything can be done for you; but
think General Wadsworth ought to
know of this. I'll lay it before him."
1.-THE Lord bless you" exclaimed
the old man. DEE '7.%fs t,'*'.=.%- .s.,*#
found thegeneral alone. AS / told
the details and circumstances of the
case, / saw that he was greatly inter-
ested in it. III. ,....,.I .s.
He asked several questions and I.
could see that he was thinking hard
as talked.
"And the officer is with McDowell?'
Yes, sir. s. ( f. ~ + },- sss
hat kind Of people are thev?'' 81
Apparently, very res spectacle farm
Show them in, Captain he said.
The father and son were introduced,
aud / left them alone with the Gener-
al. Their interview lasted full an hour.
When they left, he came out into the /
office with them; and heard him tell
them TO come the next day at that
hour, and be sure to bring the young
woman with them. q Us.
There Was droll smile on the Gen
erap face when the visitors had gone. !.
That's q hard case, Captain, : he ]
said.
I've cry, sir. =
Ss..'t And 4 really wish ws could give these.
people : pass down 70 General Me.
FDoMsll' command # S ,.I:5
ss3O do i Geueral 4. q .s.
But VI can T &. Z,
tsst) Or course not, nj. O.